Heart and Lung Disease Care at Home

If you or a loved one are dealing with COPD, congestive heart failure, or another cardiopulmonary problem, lung and heart care at home may help you lead a better quality of life as you manage your health. If you think you or your loved one may benefit from heart or lung disease care at home, you may have a lot of questions, and we aim to provide answers to those questions in this article.

What Is In-Home Heart and Lung Condition Care?

Also known as in-home cardiovascular care, in-home heart and lung condition care is a type of supportive care that allows people with lung or heart problems to stay at home rather than moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility.

What Does Lung and Heart Disease Care at Home Include?

Non-medical heart and lung disease care at home includes things like:

  • Companionship
  • Communication with care team
  • Light meal preparation according to dietary restrictions
  • Laundry
  • Errands
  • Grocery shopping
  • Tidying up the home, removing clutter that might result in a fall
  • Personal care like dressing, bathing, grooming
  • Help with light activities like going for walks
  • Assistance with pet care as needed
  • Standby assistance to prevent falls
  • Safety and security
  • Light housekeeping
  • Medication reminders

What Is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases that cause breathing problems and airflow blockages. This lung disease includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. While there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated [1].

What Is COPD Care at Home?

As a form of respiratory care at home, in-home COPD care handles things that become more difficult when you are struggling with COPD, such as housekeeping, cooking, running errands, and caring for pets.

Also known as in-home cardiovascular care, in-home heart and lung condition care is a type of supportive care that allows people with lung or heart problems to stay at home rather than moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Providing exceptional Heart and Lung Home Care Services for seniors and families in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County.

What Is Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a type of heart disease where the heart doesn’t pump blood as effectively as it should, resulting in blood returning to the heart faster than it can be pumped out and becoming congested (backed up).

Congestive heart failure causes a variety of problems, including heart palpitations, an enlarged heart, shortness of breath caused by the lungs filling with fluid, and kidney failure caused by the kidneys not receiving enough blood [2].

What’s Included in CHF Home Care Services?

In-home congestive heart failure services help with tasks that can feel unmanageable for a person who is struggling with heart failure. CHF home care services may include grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, medication reminders, and companionship. Don’t underestimate the importance of companionship.

"Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.”

What Home Help Is Available for Lung Cancer Patients?

Cancer patients may struggle with heart and lung problems or have other needs. Home help for cancer patients may include things like companionship, personal care, medication reminders, cooking, and light housekeeping.

We love hearing what others say about Canaan Home Care. Read our testimonials and find out what they think!

We also provide Heart and Lung Disease Care at Home for seniors and families in La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Tustin and Manhattan Beach.

What to Look for When Hiring a Home Care Agency for In-Home Lung or Heart Condition Care

Heart and Lung Home Care in Newport, CA by Canaan Home Care

There are many factors to consider when choosing a home care agency for heart or lung condition care at home. Asking these questions to any home care provider you are considering can help you find the best one to suit your needs [5]:

  • Is the agency licensed by the state?
  • What type of employee screening do they do?
  • Can the agency and each potential caregiver provide references?
  • How do they handle billing and expenses?
  • What resources do they provide for financial assistance?
  • Will you get a written care plan before service begins?
  • Will you receive a patient’s bill of rights?
  • Does the agency work directly with you or your loved one as well as family members and healthcare providers?
  • Do you need to choose a primary family caregiver? What’s required of them?
  • What procedures do they have in place for emergencies?
  • How are problems resolved?
  • When can services begin?

References

  1. What Is COPD? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/copd/index.html
  2. Congestive Heart Failure: Prevention, Treatment, and Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/congestive-heart-failure-prevention-treatment-and-research
  3. Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
  4. How to Assess When an Older Adult Requires Caregiving Assistance, AARP, https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2021/assessing-need-for-caregiver.html
  5. Home Care Services: Questions to Ask, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/home-care-services/art-20044609

How Do I Know if My Loved One Needs In-Home Heart or Lung Disease Care?

Here are some signs that your loved one may need lung or heart condition care at home [4].

Reduced Mobility

Heart and lung problems can make it more difficult to get around the home, as can unrelated other health problems associated with aging. If your loved one has fallen, is at risk of falling, or struggles to get around the home as well as they used to, they may benefit from in-home care.

Changes in Appearance

Has your loved one recently gained or lost a significant amount of weight? Do they look unkempt or smell as if they haven’t showered in a while? Are they wearing the same clothes every day? They may need the type of help caring for themselves that heart and lung disease care at home can provide.

Inability to Drive

Age or health issues may take away your loved one’s ability to drive, making it harder for them to get to doctor appointments, grocery shop, and run other errands. In-home lung and heart disease care can help.

Failing to Take Care of Money Matters

Have you been finding unopened mail, uncashed checks, or unpaid bills in your loved one’s home? Have they been giving unusual amounts of money to charity? Heart and lung disease care at home may help take care of those financial issues.

Struggling to Keep Up the Household

Is there spoiled food in the refrigerator? Are the towels or bedsheets soiled? Are there weeds in the usually perfect garden? Home care for heart and lung disease can handle light housekeeping for your loved one.

Taking Too Much or Too Little Medication

Taking too much or too little of important medications can be deadly. If you suspect your loved one isn’t taking their medications properly, home care can help with medication reminders.

They’re Lonely or Struggling with Their Mental Health

Loneliness and depression can significantly impact the lives of people who are already dealing with heart or lung disease. Companion care can have a substantial positive effect on a person’s overall wellbeing when they’re facing a difficult health diagnosis.

There are many specialty services offered by Canaan Home Care. Click here to see all of them.
We love hearing what others say about Canaan Home Care. Read our testimonials and find out what they think!

Canaan Home Care has a deep history of community service and caring for our neighbors. We are one of the oldest home care companies in the industry and we provide the absolute best caregivers at the most affordable rates. All caregivers are employed by Canaan Home Care and are fully licensed, bonded, and insured. All caregivers are thoroughly screened, including Live Scan background check, in-person interviews, behavioral screening, and skill-based examinations.

Canaan Home Care Value Guarantee: Your satisfaction is guaranteed. We are the only company we know of that guarantees your satisfaction and discloses its financial information. Caregivers generally make 10-15% more with Canaan Home Care than they do with other companies and our rates are generally 10% less expensive than our competitors. We guarantee you won’t find a better-qualified caregiver at a better rate, and you are not locked into any long-term contracts.

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